Vol. XXXIV • No.

2 • January 23, 2009


“Among Friends”
Adventures in Missing the Point
It was a friendly meeting. Six of us gathered in
my office on a Wednesday afternoon early in
January: Robert White, Executive Director of the
Georgia Baptist Convention; Danny Watters from the GBC
Church-Minister Relations office; Gerald Harris, Editor of the
Georgia Baptist Index; and three of us from FBC Decatur: Bob
Woodson, John Hamrick and myself. This was the first conversation
between FBC and the GBC since the Convention voted in November
not to receive money from our church.
After we visited for a few minutes Robert asked if he might
articulate his understanding of where we are and made the following
four points:
1. As an autonomous church FBC Decatur is free to choose its
leadership.
2. As an autonomous convention the GBC is free to determine
the parameters of its membership and is free to disagree with
FBC’s choice of leadership.
3. The vote by the GBC not to receive our money (and thereby
not to allow FBC a voice at convention meetings) stopped
short of the more drastic action of “withdrawing fellowship”
from our church.
4. The vote in November did not satisfy some individuals and a
proposal to withdraw fellowship from FBC Decatur is likely
to come later this year at the annual meeting.
That’s when I posed a question that’s been puzzling me since
November. “What’s the difference,” I asked, “between the GBC’s
decision not to receive our money and a formal ‘withdrawal of
fellowship’ from our church?” The response was a watershed moment
for me. They replied: “As it stands now, even though we won’t
accept your money, FBC Decatur is eligible to receive help from the
GBC. We can still provide materials and services for your church
such as the training of Sunday School or Vacation Bible School
leaders, or help with evangelism and things like that. If we withdraw
fellowship then you wouldn’t be eligible to receive those services.”
Not sure I’d heard correctly, I pressed a little. “Do you mean that if
I called you up one day and said—‘The Spirit is doing something
amazing at First Baptist Decatur! Waves of men, women and
teenagers are responding to God and are being baptized and we could
use some additional
help in giving them a "Most denominational organizations are
good foundation. Could stuck in bureaucratic systems that have
you send a team over to forgotten why they exist in the first
meet with our folks?’— place."
are you telling me that the GBC wouldn’t want to help us with that?”
To his credit, Robert rushed to assure me that he would be willing to
come over and help us “personally—just not as a representative of the
GBC.”
Friends, in that hour-long conversation it became crystal clear to
me why people are abandoning denominational structures in droves
and why denominationalism as it exists today is doomed: It is largely
missing the point. The denominational leaders in my office that day
love people and care deeply about the gospel—I’m certain about that.
But the sad reality is, most denominational organizations are stuck in
bureaucratic systems that have forgotten why they exist in the first
place.
This column is not about naming the splinter in someone else’s
eye. The truth is, First Baptist Decatur will miss the point, too, if we
ever forget why we exist. May God save us from the deadly notion
that this church exists to
"May God save us from the deadly provide goods and services
notion that this church exists to for eligible “members.” If
provide goods and services for eligible anything, the witness of
'members.'” Scripture shows us that the
church exists for the sake of the world. We exist to worship God and
to invest ourselves in bringing Christ’s kingdom on earth. We exist to
discern and to do God’s will in an ever-changing world. We exist to
follow Jesus into gospel adventures of all kinds in collaboration with
all God’s people, whatever their denominational preferences or
doctrinal stances. (The missional networks with whom we currently
partner—Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Willow Creek Association,
Baptist World Alliance, Atlanta Metro Baptist Association, etc.—are
committed to this kingdom-focused way of operating in the world.)
One of the many reasons why I love being your pastor is that you
get it in so many beautiful ways! We’re not a perfect church. We’ve
got plenty of room to grow as disciples of Jesus. But more and more
around here I see FBC folks with a gospel gleam in their eye. God is
good, friends. And the Spirit is at work in our midst. I can’t wait to
see what kingdom adventures await us in 2009.
Blessings,
The Verdery Counseling Center Team has
been diligently working to continue this
ministry in our church. The expectation is
that within a month or so the center will
be up and running in a partnership
arrangement with The Care And
Counseling Center of Georgia. CCCG is
one of the premier Pastoral Care and
Chaplaincy training programs in the U.S.
and is based in Decatur. The partnership
will provide us with one or two primary
chaplains that will staff our counseling
center and it will also give us the advantage of being able to choose
from 20 different counselors, with varying areas of expertise, and 22
interns. There will be options available to meet the specific needs for
almost any counseling circumstance or preference.
Our hope is that our center will be renovated and running within
the next 30 to 60 days and that prior to that we will be able to have a
dedication/rededication of the Verdery Counseling Center and
ministry. The Team members are: co-chairs Fred Cavalli and Larry
Connelly, Judy Neal, Judy Powell, Roger Ozaki, Mac Bowers,
Eleanor Verdery, Katherine Dean, Jenny McCurdy, Julie Pennington-
Russell, and Bob Williamson. Ron Stephenson has been involved and
supportive of the work of this group and has provided invaluable
insight. Please pray for this team and the future for our Verdery
Counseling Ministry.
Congregational Life
Prayer Concerns as of
Walk Thru the Bible at First Methodist January 21, 2008
First Methodist Church of Decatur has invited us to Walk Thru the Bible seminars they are
sponsoring on Saturday, January 24 from 9am-4pm These seminars focus on the Old Testament and In the Hospital:
at the end of the day participants will be able to talk through the whole Old Testament story using the James Williamson, father of Bob W.
fun, interactive memory aids taught by the Walk Thru the Bible teachers. There are separate Sympathy To:
seminars for adults, children, and youth. The cost is $30 per person for adults, $25 per youth and $20 •The family of Nelle Sine.
per child with a family maximum of $100. The prices include lunch and childcare for kindergarten •Evelyn Jackson on the death of her
and younger. REGISTER ahead of time at www.decaturfirst.org and pay at the door. sister, Betty Patterson.
•The family of Bernice Strain.
Free Informational Care Fair and Lunch for Caregivers •Steve and Nicki Salcedo on the death
If you are caregiver, plan to attend a free informational care fair and lunch at Shallowford of Steve’s dad in California.
Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, January 27, 2009. Industry representatives will be on hand to
address all of your questions. The fair will be held from 11:30am.-1:30pm in the Education Weekend Emergency Pastoral
Building. Lunch will be provided at no charge, so please RSVP to 770-496-5651 or email Care—Pastor On Call
leisa@dklippy.com if you plan to attend.
Jan. 23-25 ................... Debbie Britt
New Baptist Covenant Regional Event Jan. 30-Feb. 1.............Kurt Varney
Birmingham will host the first regional gathering of the New Baptist Covenant on Sat., January 31, Call the church office for the number
from 8am-4pm. The event will be held at 16th Street Baptist Church, the Birmingham Civil Rights
Institute and St. Paul's United Methodist Church. Special interest sessions will focus on poverty, Tithes & Offerings
healthcare, and hunger. For more information or to register, see www.newbaptistcovenant.org.
A Generous People
Young at Heart Trip Opportunity—A cruise of the Greek Isles 2009 Ministry Action Plan
The Young at Heart will take a cruise of the Greek Isles leaving November 7, 2009 for 8 days and 7 Weekly Need:.......................$ 29,126
nights on Caribbean Cruise Lines. If you are interested in going on this cruise we need a deposit of Received on Jan. 4 ...............$ 25,188
$350/person for double occupancy or $700/person for single occupancy by February 15, 2009. For Received on Jan. 11 .............$ 18,076
more information or to sign up contact Bob Williamson in the church office, 404-373-1653. YTD Budget:........................$ 58,252
YTD Received: ....................$ 43,264
AARP Driver Safety Driving Class Offered Feb. 16-17 YTD Spending Deficit ................N/A
There will be an AARP Driver Safety Driving class on Feb. 16 and 17 from 9:30-1:30 here at FBC
Decatur. If you are interested in signing up please call the church office (404-373-1653) to get on the “Years of Opportunity 2007-09”
class list. The cost is $14 and you get a discount with an AARP membership card. Campaign
Given to Date .....................$ 358,847
FBC Facility Use Bank Loan Balance ............$ 235,184
Our church facilities are used extensively each week and it takes our maintenance staff many hours to Owed to FBC Foundation ..$ 180,000
have them ready for Bible study and worship on Sundays. This year we will be working to limit the
number of events that happen in our facilities on Fridays and Saturdays to help us be ready for Missions Offering YTD........$ 1,615
Sunday mornings. Please keep this in mind as you try to schedule meetings and other events at the
church in 2009. Wednesday Dinner Menus

Volunteers Needed for Nursery Duty January 28

We are currently developing the 2009 Nursery Duty Schedule for both the Fresh Start Service and Pick one of the following menus:
Sanctuary Service. With a fresh crop of babies in the infant room and all the wonderful new children Blue Plate Menu
in our congregation...we need a few more volunteers!! If you are interested in volunteering in the Grilled Ham Steak, Creamed Corn,
nursery for either service contact Emily Herndon (678-431-3130 or emilyherndon@gmail.com). Green Beans, Salad Bar, Yeast Rolls,
Brownies w/ Peanut Butter Icing
“Lighter Side” Menu
Go...Be...Do! Missions Corner Chicken Noodle Soup, Baked Potato/
Salad Bar, Sliced Turkey Breast,
Your 2009 Special Missions Offering envelope is different Pepperoni Pizza, Jello
this year. Instead of sending special offerings to SBC general February 4
funds (Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong), we will be Pick one of the following menus:
sending money directly to the accounts of the missionaries Blue Plate Menu
associated with First Baptist. Here’s how the special offering Oven Fried Chicken, Potato Salad,
will be divided: First, we will complete the collection of Green Beans, Salad Bar, Yeast Rolls,
$9,000 for continuing education for the staff of the Fruit Cocktail Cake
Upland Holistic Development Project in Thailand. After that, 15% of the Special Missions Offering “Lighter Side” Menu
will go directly to our FBC missionaries on the field, 15% will go to special needs here in Vegetable Soup, Baked Potato/Salad
Decatur, and the rest will go to the CBF Global Missions Offering. Our goal for 2009 is $30,000. Bar, Grilled Chicken Strips, The
Thank you for your generosity! “Works” Pizza, Fruit Bowl
Youth Sp•t Kid’s Zone
On Sunday evening, February 1, the youth ministry will host a
Super Bowl party for youth and youth families in the Fellowship
Hall at 6:00. This is a great time to get together with other youth
families and talk, eat, play games and watch the game in HD. The
church will provide the drinks and paper goods and families are
asked to bring along a few food items to share. Chili, chips, snacks,
cookies, and candy are great things to bring.
The youth will be heading to Newnan for March Mission
Madness on March 20th. This is a really great time to be with youth
from all across the state for worship and community service. We 3 year olds (since Sept. 1, 2008) - 5th grade: Activities include:
will leave the church on Friday evening (March 20) and return on singing, crafts for younger children, handbells and Orff instruments
Sunday afternoon (March 22). Look for more information coming for older children, opportunities for worship leadership, music
soon! education, and more!
-- Melody Makers - 3 year olds Music Friends - 4 & 5 year olds
If you have not had a chance to mark the big youth dates for 2009 on Music Makers - grades 1 & 2 Young Musicians - grades 3—5
your calendar please take a moment and do so now!
Upcoming Extended Session Volunteers
Spring Break Retreat at the Beach
Sunday, April 5 through Saturday, April 11 Jan. 25 Feb. 1 Feb. 8 Feb. 15
Morris Hinkle Castleberry Stanford
Yard Sale Fisher Carter Kennedy Hayes
Yard Sale Week is Saturday, May 23 through Saturday, May 30 Madden Salcedo Jones Fewell
Opening Day is Thursday, May 28 at 7:00 AM Hamrick
Junior/Senior Trip Children’s Ministry Big Summer Dates
Tuesday, June 9 through Wednesday, June 17
Children’s Beach Retreat; Jekyll Island
Intown Mission Week May 31-June 6
Friday, June 26 through Wednesday, July 1
Dogwood Children’s Camp; Chattanooga TN
Out of Town Mission Week to Hurley, Virginia July 6-10
Saturday, July 11 through Saturday, July 18
Vacation Bible School; Rome...Where the Bible Comes to Life!
Beach Retreat July 20-24
August 2 through 7

The Outlook, a publication of the First Baptist Church of Decatur,

Georgia, is mailed to members and friends of the First Baptist family.

Main Office......................................404-373-1653
Finance.............................................404-370-7694
First School ......................................404-370-7688
Activities ..........................................404-373-2442
FAX ..................................................404-370-7692
Debbie Britt .....................................404-373-1653
Sharyn Dowd....................................404-373-1653
Ryan Forbes.....................................404-370-7690
Julie Pennington-Russell.................404-370-7684
Kurt Varney......................................404-373-1653
Bob Williamson ...............................404-370-7687
Computer Connections:
Website—www.fbcdecatur.com
E-Mail—fbcd@fbcdecatur.com

The Outlook, USPS 600-320, is published bi-weekly, except

Christmas week, by First Baptist Church Decatur, GA

Postmaster: Please send address changes to First Baptist Church,

308 Clairemont Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030